Russia and China discuss use of Northern Sea Route

September 06, 2013, 13:00 UTC+3The meeting participants also discussed development of combined transportation

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BEIJING, September 6 (Itar-Tass) - Development of trans-continental transportation and use of the Northern Sea Route were key topics at the 17th meeting of the Russia-China subcommittee on cooperation in transport, which finished its work on Friday.

“The cargo base, which is being formed in China, is of a key importance in the cargo turnover of Asian-Pacific and European countries,” Russia’s Minister of Transport Maxim Sokolov said. “Thus, we have been considering several new directions, including the rapid container transportation from the Eastern coast. We also pay special attention to the development of the Northern Sea Route, as the Chinese side has been expressing much interest to this new corridor.”

China’s share in the global trade is over 20%, where over 70% of import and 55% of export are transported by sea.

The meeting participants also discussed development of combined transportation, including “cargo transit via Vladivostok to China’s territory by Russian railroads,” the Russian transport minister said.

“We have discussed all the issues, especially transit via China’s Western and Eastern borders, and via Russia’s Maritime Territory. An important result is that the railway border crossing in the Maritime territory resumes its work,” Sokolov said. “Of course, we have plans to develop sea transportation and transit not only from the port of Vladivostok, but from other ports, too. The agreements we have signed today will favor development of sea transport in that region.”